most Prone and Weak there I beg of thee to exalt thy Power in preserving me Here Name thy greatest Temptation IV. O let the Sufferings of my Crucified Saviour for my sins and the Solemn Vow I have have now made against them never slip from my Memory but let the remembrance of the one make me perform the other that I may never engage with those Lust which Nailed his Hands and Feet Pierced his Side and made his Soul sorrowful to Death But now having a new resigned my self to him I may serve him in Righteousness and Holiness all the days of my Life V. LORD support my Weakness in this warfare and be thou my Strength for I am not able to struggle with the least Temptations How often have I fainted in the Encounter How many Sabbaths have I profaned and how many Sacramental Vows have I broken And yet O Lord I carry about me the same deceitful Heart to betray me to the breach of this last Duty But O thou who art for eâ—eâ— uâ—changeable eâ—due me I 〈◊〉 beseech thee with such a stedfastness of mind that I may never swerve from thy Commandments but bring forth Fruits meet for Re pentance that I may arrive to Life Eternal through the Merits and Mediation of my Crucified Lord and Saviour Amen VI. Almighty God who hast promised to hear the Petitions of them that ask in thy Sons Name I beseech thee mercifully to incline thine Ears to me that have made now my Prayers and Supplications unto thee and grant that those things which I have faithfully asked according to thy Will may effectually be obtained to the relief of my Necessity and to the setting forth thy Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen VII Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that I am able to ask or think according to the Power that worketh in me unto him be Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages World without End Amen The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Sweet and Comfortable Felowship of his Holy and Blessed Spirit be with me and remain with me now and forever Amen Private Devotions and Divine Thoughts to be used every Day in the Week A Morning Prayer to be Used after the Ejaculations at Up Rising O Omnipetent and Everlasting God I Bless and Praise thy Holy Name for thy preservation of me this night past even to this present I beseech thee in all that I shall do this day presper thou the Work of my Hands O prosper thou my Hand-work II. Ill all that I shall think or say let the words of my Mouth and the Meditations of my Heart be such as may be ever acceptable in thy sight O Lord my Strength and my Redeemer that thou maiest for ever Vouchsafe to be with me both in and Death WHEREIN for the short time of my Life here give me Grace so to behave my self as in thy Presence Fearing nothing so much as thy displeasure hating and Sorrowing for nothing so much as my sins loving and rejoycing in nothing so much as in thee and thy Glory IV. and for the time of my Death I beseech thee in thy good Providence and Mercy so to Order it that I be not found either unproxided or unwilling to depart in that kind of Death and by that means which thou shalt appoint but so to be ever affected in Faith and Love as they that long to be delivered from this Body of sin into the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God V. IN this hope I rest and into thy Blessed Protection and Mercy this day I commend my Soul and Body My Relations and Friends beseeching thee so to Sanctifie and Direct us in the ways of the Laws and in the works of thy Commandements and to give thine Angels such charge over us that through thy most Protection both here and ever we may be preserved in Body and Soul to serve thee the only true God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Hymn for the Morning LOrd I do now lift up my Eyes And leave my sluggish Bed But why I wake or why I rise Comes seldom in my Head Is it to Sweat and Toil for wealth Or sport my time away That thou preserv'st me still in Health And givest me this new day No no unskilful Soul not so Be not deceiv'd with Toys Thy Lord's Commands more wisely go And Aim at higher joys They bid us wake to seek new Grace And some fresh Virtue gain They call us up to mend our pace Till we the prize attain That Glorious prize for which all Run Who wisely spend their Breath Who when this weary Life is done Are sure of rest in Death Not such a rest as here we prove Disturb'd with cares and fear But endless joy and peace and Love Vnmixt with Grief and Tears Glory to thee O bounteous Lord Who giv'st to all things breath Glory to thee Eternal Word Who sav'st us by thy Death Glory O blessed Spirit to thee Who fill'st our Souls with love Glory to all the Mystick three Who Reign one God above Amen Ejaculations for the Day At your Apparelling say BLessed Jesu that the shame of my sinful Soul may not be seen Cloath it with thy spotless Robes of Righteousness and Adorn it with all the Ornaments of all manner of Grace and Vertues Amen When you are Apparelled O most aimable Jesu the true Spoufe of my Soul give me the Wedding Garment of Divine Love and perpetual Charity Amen Washing your Hands O Blessed Lord who so loved us as to Wash our Souls in thy pretious Blood Purifie I beseech thee my Heart and my Hands from all the spots and filth of sin Amen In Washing your Mouth O Divine Wisdom which proceedest out of the Mouth of thy Heavenly Father I humbly beseech thee with thy Grace to Purge my Lips from all Wicked and Vain words that my Mouth may never open but to thy praise and the improvement of others Amen In Washing your Eyes O thou Celestial Light who Illuminates every one that comes into the World enlighten the Eyes of my Soul that in all things I may perfectly see and perform thy blessed will and Pleasure Amen Beholding your Face in the Glass Say All Flesh is Grass and the Glory of it as the Flower of the Field which may quickly sade away and be no more seen Favour is deceitful and Beauty is vain but a Woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Going forth of thy House or Chamber say Shew me O Lord thy ways and teach me thy Paths Direct my steps according to thy word that no Injustice Rule over me make perfect my goings in thy Paths that my steps be not moved As you Travel or Walk by the way Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way and walk in the Law of the Lord. When the Clock strikes or you see the
my cause O Lord with thy Heavenly Father and be thou for ever my Mediator and Advocate III. AS thou hast ordained the day for Labour and the night for Rest I beseech thee to protect me this Night let the Eve of thy Providence watch over me and thy Holy Angels pitch their Tents about me that being safely delivered from danger and refreshed with moderate Sleep I may be enabled to perform my own employment and faithfully persevere in the duties of thy Service and so daily advance to new Victories over my Passions and more perfect observance of thy Commandments till having passed my days in thy fear I may end them in thy favour and rejoyce with thee for ever in thy heavenly Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth ever one God World without end Amen A Hymn for the Evening NOw my Soul the day is gone Which in the Morn was thine Now its Glass no more shall run Its Sun no longer shine True alas the day is gone O were it only so Is it not lost as well as done Cast up thy Counts and know Are we so much nearer Heav'n As to the Grave we bow Has our sorrow made all ev'n And clear'd the Debts we owe From what Vice have we refrain'd To break the course of sin What new Virtue have we gain'd To make us rich within Time is well bestowed on those Who well their time bestow Whose main concern still forwards goes Whose hopes still riper grow Who when e're the Clocks proclaim Another hour is past Have an Art to set their aim And thoughts upon their last That their last and happiest hour Which brings them to their home Where they sing and bless the pow'r By which they thither come O my God of Life and Death The everlasting King Since thou givist to all their Breath May all thy Glory sing Glory Honour Pow'r and Praise To the Mysterious three As at first beginning was May now and ever be Amen As you undress your self say The time is now approaching when I must put off this Body of sinful Flesh as I do now these Garments which cover it grant O Lord that I may put off the Old Man which is Corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts and put on the New Man which after thee O God is Created in Righteousness and true Holiness As you enter into your Bed say In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified I lay me down to rest bless me O Lord defend and Govern me and after this short and miserable Pilgrimage bring me to everlasting happiness Amem A Prayer at setling to Sleep O Jesus Christ whose unwearied Eye neither slumbers nor sleeps but continually watches in defence of thy Servants receive me I beseech thee into thy Protection and grant that when my Body is a sleep my Soul may wake to thee and hereafter behold that Blessed and heavenly Life where thou with the Father and the Holy Ghost Art eternal Governour and where the Angels with the blessed Souls are Citizens for ever Amen When thou art in Bed and canst not sleep exercise thy self in this Meditation Sâ—and in awe and sin not Commune with your own Heart upon your Bed and be still I will lay me down in Peace and will take my rest For thou Lord only makest me to dwell in safety Have mercy upon me O Lord now and at the hour of Death II. O Lord preserve me while I am waking and defend me when I am sleeping that my Soul may continually watch for thee and both Body and Soul may rest in thy Peace for ever Amen The Holy and undivided Trinity be now and evermore my defence against all Perils and Dangers of this Night Amen FINIS
The PRAYER MOST gracious God I have been very negligent of thy Service and those duties whereby I should have been better'd in the ways of Godliness by my ill performance have made me worse my very Prayers have been turned into Sin and those Sacrifices whereby I should have propitiated thee hath removed thee at a further distance from me and though thou in thy Mercy and tender compassion hast oppossed me in my Sins and called me to Repentance yet notwithstanding I have rusht into all manner of Wickedness * Here Name the Particulars as the Horse into the Battle and have gone from bad to worse II. THY Judgment have not Awaked me nor thy Mercies wonne me to Obedience I have not harkened to the Voice of thy Ministry nor to the Secret Checks of my own Conscience nor yet to the good motions of thy Holy Spirit all directing me this is the way walk in it and you shall find rest unto your Soul yet notwithstanding all the good means thou hast used to reclaim me and to bring me home to thee I have still gone on in a stubborn Course of Sin to the dishonour of thy Name the wounding of my own Soul the Scaldal of others and the increasing the great dreadful Account that I must one day make at the Judgment Seat of Christ III. FOR these O Lord and many other Sins all thy Waves and Storms have gone over me when thou hast smitten me I became void of understanding and was so far from being humbled that I laid it not to Heart nor considered that it was an Evil and bitter thing to depart from thee O Lord my God wo unto me I have pulled away the Shoulder I have stopt my Ear that I might not hear I have made my Heart harder than the Adamant and the neither Milstone impregnable for all thy Judgments have not pierced me nor made those impressions of Compunction and Sorrow which are the end whereof thou didst send them so that to my own shame and Confusion I may say my spots are none of the spots of thy Children nor thy Punishments the Chastisements of a loving Father but of an Angry Judge IV. I have too just reason to fear thy Afflictions under which I mourn they are not a Wind to Fan and Purge me but a Whirl Wind to Scatter and utterly destroy me as if the Sentence were already past and the Decree gone forth as if my Days were at an end because the shadows of the Evening are so far stretched out but yet O Lord be not weary of thy repentings though thou hast been prest under the Load of my Sins be not Angry with me for Ever but in the midst of Justice remember Mercy Amen Read the Psalms and Lessons appointed for the Day Tuesday Evenings Meditations LEARN Oâ— my Soul to Confess a Truth though never so much to thy own Diminution Learn ro Advance the Honour of thy God though never so much to thine own depression They who humble themselves shall be exalted and they who exalt themselves shall be humbled Learn to decline the Applause of Men and Banish from thy thoughts all conceits of thine own worth learn to speak lowly of thy self and to mean as thou sayest II. OFTEN does our weakness judge of others and perhaps our Malice censure their Qualities We rashly conclude upon outward presumptions and little consider their inward worth we are apt to undervalue whom we familiarly are acquainted with and scarce can think highly of them whom we have once known low Heal us O thou great Physitian of our Souls Heal us of all our Diseases and above them all of our Rude Impatience towards those that would Cure us Whatever they do who know thee not let not thy Church dishonour thee nor those of thine own Houshould undervalue thy Mercies Let not our unbelief Chase thee away nor our ingratitude overcome thy goodness III. DISDAIN not O my Soul the Company of thy Inferiors but accommodate thy self to their Innocent Customs help them with thy Prayers if thou canst not with thy Power and thy Lord in due time will Bounteously reward thee he keeps the good Wine till the last and then he 'll fill us to the brim with joy IV. TEACH me O Lord to Treat with every one according to their quality and neither scorn my Inferiors nor indiscreetly exalt them Teach me to humble my Soul before thy Majesty and sincerely Confess I am an unprofitable Servant unprofitable to thee O Lord not to my self while I gain by thy Service the Wages of Eternity If by thy Grace I believe thy word and Obey thy Law and with my whole Strength Love and Adore thee When I have done all that I ought which alas is more then I do I must still Confess I 'm an unprofitable Servant The PRAYER O Lord Create in me a clean Heart and renew a right Spirit within me let the Assistance of thy Holy Spirit of Grace preserve me from Sin for the time to come for without thy preventing me I cannot but Sin visit me therefore O Lord with thy Salvation that I may live undefiled in the way of thy Commandments and see the Felicity of thy chosen and rejoyce and give thanks with thine Inheritance II. TO this End send thy Holy Spirit into my Heart to teach me to deny all ungodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live Righteously Godly and Soberly in this present World remembring the great Account I am to make at the last day O let it subdue every Proud thought and vain imagination that shall exalt it self against the Scepter of thy Kingdom III. GIVE me I beseech thee either Peace from temptations or Victory over them in all Assaults of my Ghostly Enemy let thy Mighty hand have preheminence and bring mighty things to pass even Victory and Deliverance unto me the unworthiest of thy Servants that so by the Assistance of thy Holy Spirit I may Crucifie the Old Man Mortifie the Works of the Flesh subdue my Corruptions * Here Name the particulars Vanquish Satan and Tryumph over the Powers of the Kingdom of Darkness IV. O put thy fear into my Heart that I may never depart from thee put thy Love into my Heart that my Luke-warmness being raised us to the Flames and Fervency of Cherubims I may love thee above all things and loving thee above all things I may fear to offend so good and so gracious a God as thou Art wash away all my sins in that Sea of Blood which thy Son Christ Jesus shed for me and for the sins of the whole World and grant that I may receive the full benefit of his Death and Passion in this most Holy Sacrament with a free Pardon of all my sins and manifold transgressions Amen Then Read the Psalms and Lessons appointed for the day Meditations for Wednesday Morning BLESSED are they that had rather endure Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the Pleasures of sin for a
hour of the day Our time passeth away like a Shadow and we bring our Years to an end as it were a Tale that is told But Lord so teach me to number my Days that I may apply my Heart unto true Wisdom As you Ascend any high place or go to Church Who shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord or who shall rise up in his Holy place Even he that hath Clean Hands and a pure Heart and that hath not list up his mind unto Vanity nor sworn to deceive his Neighbour When you are on a high place say Thy Mercy O Lord reacheth unto the Heavens and thy faithfulness unto the Clouds Beholding pleasant Fields and Variety of Objects O Lord how manifold are thy Works In Wisdom hast thou formed them all the Earth is full of thy Riches thou openest thine hand and fillest all things living with plentiousness Vpon hearing or seeing any thing Extraordinary Blessed be the Lord God even the God of Israel which only doth wonderous things and blessed be the Name of his Majesty for ever and all the Earth shall be filled with his Majesty Amen Amen When you go to Read or Meditate Open thou mine Eyes O Lord that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law And grant that what ever I Read or Meditate may conduce to the full understanding of thy Will and my ready Obedience thereunto Being wearied therewith Lord let me not be weary in well-doing remembring that in due time I shall Reap if I faint not When you go about any worldly Employments Deliver me O Lord from every evil Work and stablish me in every good Word and Work When you are Discontented or Sad. Why art so full of heaviness O my Soul and why at thou so disquieted within me Put thy trust in God For I will yet give him thanks for the help help of his Countenance Cause thy Face O Lord to shine upon thy Servant O shew me the Light of thy Countenance and I shall be whole When you Hunger and Thirst Blessed are all they that Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled with thy abundant goodness When you are asked an Alms and are able to give It is more blessed to give than to receive he that Soweth sparingly shall Reap sparingly and he which Soweth bountifully shall Reap bountifully When you hear any Person Evil spoken of Deliver me O Lord from Lving Lips and from a Deceitful Tongue Vpon sight of your Sins and mispending of 〈…〉 O remember not the Sins and Offences of my Youth or Riper Years but a cording to thy tender Mercy think thou upon me O Lord for thy goodness After thou hast Rehearsed the the Lords Prayer the Twelve Apostles Creed and the Ten Commandements Think upon these good Rules that are to be observed and practised and what sins are to be avoided The two Precepts of Charity or the Laws of Nature TO love God above all for his own sake To love all Men as our selves for Gods sake and to do unto others as we would they should do unto us Deut. 6.5.10.12 Matt. 7.12 The Sacraments of the Church The principal and truly so called as generally necessary to Salvation are two Baptism and the Lords Supper The three Teological Vertues Faith Hope and Charity 1 Cor. 13.13 The Four Cardinal Virtues Prudence Justice Fortitud and Temperance Three kinds of good Works Fasting Prayer and Alms Deeds Matt. 6. Pray and Labour for the Seven gists of the Holy Ghost 1. The Spirit of Wisdom 2. And understanding 3. The Spirit of Councel 4. And Ghostly Strength 5. The Spirit of Knowledge 6. And Piety 7. The Spirit of a Holy and Godly Fear Isa 11.2 To those add the Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost Love Joy Peace Patience Mercy Goodness Long-Suffering Meekness Faith Modesty Shame-Facedness Sobriety Gal. 5.22 Endeavour to perform these Seven Spiritual works of Mercy 1. To instruct the Ignorant Matt. 18.15 16 17. 2. To Correct offenders Jam. 5.12 3. To Gouncel the Doubtful Gal. 6.6 4. To comfort the Afflicted Prov. 27.9 5. To suffer Injuries with Patience Eccles 5.8 6. To forgive Offences and Wrongs Rom. 15.1 7. To Pray for others Mark 11.25 Likewise forget not these six Corporal Works of Mercy 1. To feed the Hungry and to give Drink to the Thirsty Mat. 15. 2. To Cloath the Naked Mat. 25. 3. To harbour the Stranger and Needy Tob. 1. 4. To visit the Sick Isa 58. 5. To Minister unto Prisoners and Captive Tob. 12. 6 To Bury the Dead Observe the eight Beatitudes Mat. 5. 1. Blessed are the Poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven 2. Blessed are they that Mourn for they shall be Comforted 3. Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the Earth 4. Bressed are they which do Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled 5. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain Mercy 6. Blessed are the pure in Heart for they shall see God 7. Blessed are the Peace-Makers for they shall be called the Children of God 8. Blessed are they which are Persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kindom of Heaven Labour to avoid the Seven deadly sins as they are commonly so called 1. Pride Luk. 14.11 2. Covetousness Act. 20.35 3. Luxury 1 Cor. 16.15 4. Envy 1 Joh. 3.14 5. Gluttony Rom. 14.7 6. Anger Mat. 11.29 7. Sloth Jer. 48.10 Pray for the seven contrary Virtues 1. Humility 2. Liberality 3. Chastity 4. Gentleness 5. Temperance 6. Patience 7. Devout and Earnest serving of God and being dilligent Four Sins that Cry to Heaven for Vengeance 1. Wilful Murther 2. Carnal Sin against Nature 3. Oppression of the Poor 4. Defrauding Workmen of their Wages The Four last things to be remembred 1. Death 2. Judgment 3. Hell 4. Heaven Ejaculations when towards Bed-time I will not suffer mine Eyes to Sleep nor mine Eye-Lids to Slumber neither the Temples of my Head to take any rest until I find out a place for the Lord an habitation for the Mighty God of Jacob. A Prayer for the Evening O Almighty God my Glory and my hope my Lord and Master the Father of Mercy and God of all Comfort I present to thee the Sacrifice of a thankful Spirit in humble and joyful acknowledgment of those infinite favours by which thou hast this day and all the whole term of my life supported my state enriched my Spirit comforted my Sorrows relieved my necessities blessed and defended my Person instructed my Ignorance and promoted my Eternal Interest II. WHOM have I in Heaven but thee or whom on Earth have I desired or may desire in Comparison of thee whose Nature is Goodness whose Will is Power and whose Work is Pitty I humbly beseech thee to Pardon my sins Here Name the Particulars and accept of this Evening Sacrifice abate my Pride and remedy all my other imperfections Oh multiply thy Grace upon Humility and manifest thy Power in my infirmity plead thou